
By Gabriela Resto-Montero
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
SOHO — A plan to create a SoHo Business Improvement District moved one step closer to fruition last month with an approval from the City Planning Commission.
The Commission approved the BID, which would stretch between Canal and Houston streets on Broadway, with a provision that the residents of Co-Ops would be reimbursed for costs associated with the group and that all residents would pay no more than $1 annually.
"The SoHo BID will serve as an advocate to address the coordination of services by city agencies, address street cleaning along Broadway, and improve pedestrian and street congestion created to a large extent by SoHo's success," the commission reported in its decision.
Community Board 2 rejected the proposal in November on grounds that there was overwhelming community opposition, and that the BID's stated purpose of dealing with tourists would actually hurt, not help, the neighborhood.
With the Commission's backing, the BID proposal will finally be decided by the City Council.